Tape dispenser and cutter



Jan. 4, 1966 A. P. COSTELLO 3,227,341

TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER Filed July 13, 1964 INVENTOF! ALFRED P. COSTELLO United States Patent 3,227,341 TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER Alfred P. Costello, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignor to Universal Patent and Development Ltd., a corporation of Canada Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,075 Claims priority, application Canada, Jan. 18, 1964, 893,562 1 Claim. (Cl. 225--44) My invention relates to a device for dispensing and cutting rolled tape, particularly pressure sensitive tapes such as cellulose (Scotch), masking, surgical adhesive, electrical friction plastic and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which will enable a length of tape to be unwound from the roll and cut by a one handed and more or less continuous movement.

A further object is to provide means whereby the tape may be pulled from the roll along a line substantially normal to the point of contact of the tape to the roll.

A still further object is to provide means which will ensure that the cut end of the tape is readily available for the next application.

These and other objects as well as the many features and advantages of my invention will appear in the following specification and be shown in the accompanying draw- Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the invention, part broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment of the tape dispenser consists of a case which preferably is formed of a suitable plastic material. The case is made up of two mating halves which form parallel side walls 11 and a peripheral wall 12. Extending between the side walls of the case is a sleeve bearing 15 which defines a central opening 16. At the lower rear corner of the case 10 the two halves are connected by a pin 17. The halves are also joined together at the opposite corner of the case by a second pin 18. This latter pin extends across a discharge opening which opening is bordered by a rim 21 formed by the rounded upper edge of the peripheral wall 12.

Hingedly mounted on the pin 18 is a rectangular cutter 24 which normally is supported in the horizontal position by the rim 21 and when so supported forms a closure for the opening 20. The free end of the cutter projects beyond the rim 21 and this projecting end is radiused as at 25. Secured to the underside of the cutter 24 is a metal blade 26 having a serrated or toothed cutting edge 27 which extends a short distance beyond the rounded end of the cutter. The hinged end of the cutter is enlarged and substantially cylindrical so as to form a tape guide 28.

I prefer to make the pins 17 and 18 as well as the hearing 15 of telescoping parts which are carried by the two halves of the container. This type of construction facilitates assembly of the case and enables the manufacturer to make the tape dispenser either reusable or otherwise.

For example, the mated or telescoping parts can be secured together permanently or alternatively they can be re- I cutting edge 27 of the blade.

3,227,341 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 leasably connected so that the case can be refilled when necessary.

The device is designed to dispense adhesive tape from a roll 30 which is mounted on a spool 31. This spool fits over the sleeve bearing 15 so as to freely journal the tape roll within the case. Initially the free end 32 of the tape is peeled from the roll and is left adhered to the rim 21 of the case until ready for use.

When a length of tape is required the user holds the dispenser in the palm of one hand with one finger inserted through the opening 16 and the thumb resting on the cutter. With the dispenser thus held the user swings the cutter to open position, grasps the tape end 32 with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand and applies the tape end to the surface to be taped. The case 10 is tilted so that the front portion of the wall 12 is substantially parallel to the surface. It will be noted that this portion of the case recedes from the point of contact of the cutter with the surface so that the device can conveniently be used in this tilted position without scraping the surface as the tape is applied. Now, still using one hand only, the case is pulled away from the surface attached end to extend the tape and as this is done a slight pressure is applied to the cutter to press the tape on to the surface. Thus the tape is applied with a wiping action with the tape sliding around the guide 28 and between the rim 21 and the underside of the cutter. When sufiicient tape has been extended the downward pressure on the cutter is increased to pinch the tape against the rim. At the same time a slight pulling and twisting motion is exerted on the case so that the tape is severed against the After this application of the tape a free end 32 again projects from the case and is readily accessible for the next application simply by raising the cutter on its hinge pin 18.

If a length of tape is required and it is not convenient to apply it directly from the case, the cutter 24 is swung to open position and the tape is unwound from the roll. As this is done the tape is drawn around the guide 28 and is pulled from the roll along a line counter to the direction of rotation of the roll. It has been found that less effort is required to pull the tape in this manner than at a tangent to the roll as is done with conventional disensers.

What I claim is:

A tape dispenser comprising a case having side walls, a peripheral wall and a bearing on which an annular roll of tape is adapted to be journalled, said peripheral Walls having an upper front corner in which a rectangular discharge opening is formed, said discharge opening having a rear edge and a front edge over which the free end of the tape extends as it is dispensed from the roll, said front edge being disposed forwardly of the outer periphery of the roll of tape, a hinge pin extending between the side walls parallel and closely adjacent to the rear edge, a cutter mounted at one end on the hinge pin and forming a hinged closure for the discharge opening, the hinged end of the cutter being substantially cylindrical and enlarged to project below the lower face of the cutter when said cutter is in the closed position, a tape cutting edge on the free end of the cutter, said cutter in the closed position being supported by the front edge with the tape cutting edge projecting a substantial distance forwardly of said front edge and overhanging the adjacent face of the peripheral wall and said cutter in the open position being buttressed by the rear edge with the hinged end of the cutter forming a guide for the tape as it is drawn off the roll.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hindel 22544 X Schulz 22547 Denebeim 225--44 X Wright 22566 X Marinsky 22566 X Gerbing 22544 X Cardall 22585 X Tallman 22544 X Behr 22547 X Slawik 22544 Emmert 22547 X Schleicher 22556 Seror 22566 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada.

5/1910 France.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, DONALD L. MAXSON,

Examiners. 

